With a grunt, I released the fireball. The force recoiled through my body, throwing me backward and slamming my head against a seat. “Ugh… damn it…”

The spell exploded on impact, leaving a crater in the arena floor. Smoke billowed outward, obscuring everything. I stumbled forward, coughing, and spotted the Queen struggling to rise. An unconscious elf was on top of her, likely caught in the blast.

As I made my way toward her, an elf emerged from the smoke, her silhouette sharp and menacing. Before I could react, her boot connected with my face. The impact sent me sprawling, blood spraying from my mouth as I hit the ground hard. Once again, stars danced in my vision, and the smoke made it impossible to see where she’d gone.

“You ruined everything!” she screamed from somewhere in the haze.

Another arrow hissed through the air. Instinctively, I raised my arm to shield myself---and glad I did. Pain tore through my palm as the arrow punched clean through, stopping millimeters from my face.

“Shit!” I shouted, gritting my teeth as I rolled onto my side, cradling my injured hand.

“Where is she?” the elf snarled, her voice filled with rage. “Where’s that damned Queen? I can’t see her in this smoke! Kill the bitch!”

Clenching my jaw, I forced myself to focus. Kenneth’s advice from the forest echoed in my mind: Push the arrow through, or you’ll do more damage.

Breaking off the shaft’s protruding end, I steeled myself. My breaths came in sharp gasps, and I counted silently, though I knew I wouldn’t make it to three. Without warning, I shoved the arrow through, a raw scream tearing from my throat as it exited the other side.

Tears streamed down my face as I lay there, clutching my bleeding hand. My lips trembled as I bit down hard to stifle another cry, the coppery taste of blood mixing with the salty tang of sweat and tears.

“Okay… okay…” I whispered to myself, struggling to suppress the overwhelming urge to pass out. “You’re not done yet.”

I peeled the fresh bandage from my shoulder—the wound Suzan had left during her attack—and quickly wrapped it around my bleeding palm. The bandage turned red almost instantly, but it would have to do.

The moment I straightened up, something—or someone—slammed into me from behind, driving me to the ground. The metallic clang of armor told me it was the traitorous guard, though the lingering smoke made it impossible to see him clearly.

Before I could react, he climbed on top of me, pinning me down, and began pummeling my face with relentless punches. Left, right, left—each strike landed with sickening force. I raised my arms to shield myself, but he yanked them aside every time, refusing to let up.

“Damn it! Stop—” I choked out, trying to push him off.

A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

“Shut up!” he snarled, his fists continuing to rain down.

After six… or more brutal punches, I managed to twist onto my stomach, forcing him to mount my back instead. Taking the chance, I threw my head backward, connecting with his nose in a sharp crack. He cried out and stumbled off me, finally giving me space to breathe.

I barely had a moment to recover before the elf emerged through the thinning smoke, her bow drawn. I dodged to the side, the arrow grazing my arm as it shot past. The smoke was clearing slightly, but my vision remained blurred, my head pounding from the earlier beating.

Behind me, the guard scrambled to his feet and grabbed a discarded sword. He swung wildly, and though I tried to dodge, the blade's tip slashed across my back. Pain flared up, sharp and burning, but the wound was shallow enough that I could still move.

“Please,” I begged, stumbling forward. “Just stop. Please!”

The elf didn’t listen. She closed the distance and drove her fist into my stomach. The blow knocked the wind out of me, leaving me gasping and disoriented. I collapsed to the ground, clutching my abdomen, the world spinning around me.

I needed to act. Now.

Closing my eyes, I visualized the spell, pouring everything I had into it. The familiar warmth engulfed my right hand, but this time it burned—searing hot and almost unbearable. Sparks crackled as the magic intensified, and I gritted my teeth against the pain.

Pushing myself to one knee, I raised my hand and aimed at the guard. With a roar, I released the fireball.

He reacted quickly, casting a barrier spell, but it wasn’t enough. My attack shattered the shield, sending him flying into the main building. Glass shattered as his body crashed through one of the windows, disappearing inside.

“Ah, thank fuck.” I whispered. “Crap.”

The elf froze, her bow trembling in her hands. She took a few hesitant steps back, then turned and vanished into the smoke, retreating for now.

Panting heavily, I stumbled toward the Queen. The unconscious elf was still sprawled on top of her, so I dragged him off, my injured hands shaking from the effort. Reaching down, I grabbed her by the arm and hoisted her upright.

She groaned as she tried to step forward, only to crumple back down. “Damn it…” she muttered, her face contorted in pain.

“Your ankle’s hurt,” I said, catching her before she fell completely. Without a second thought, I lifted her into my arms, carrying her like some kind of fairy-tale damsel.

Her head rested against my chest as I ran toward the second building, weaving through the dissipating smoke. Every step sent jolts of pain through my body, but I pushed on, knowing we didn’t have much time before the elves regrouped.

“You…” she murmured weakly, her voice barely audible over my laboured breathing. “How---you?”

“I think,” I said with a dull voice, shouldering the door open and stepping inside, “we can safely call this Plan B, don’t you think, Queen?”

She gave the faintest laugh, closing her eyes as I kicked the door shut behind us. “Not bad… for a dungeon rat…”

And with that, I had officially exhausted all my strength, nothing left to even stand. I carefully placed her on the ground, then turned back to see if the door could be locked. Noticing that it could, I grabbed the thick wooden bar from the wall and lowered it into place, securing the door.

The teachers and students who had likely been watching the fight outside came rushing down the stairs, their faces etched with concern. I sighed in relief as I sat on the ground, my back resting against the wall. The blood coming from my wounds was forming a small pool around me, and every inch of my body ached.

“Finally…” I whispered to myself. “It’s over.”